KRG addresses Amnesty International on terrorist Walid Younis’ case

The Head of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) High Committee to Respond to International Reports Dr. Dindar Zebari has issued a response to Amnesty International‌s “Urgent Action Update” regarding the case of Walid Younis.

In this response the KRG provides some context on the incarcerated individual stating that, Walid Younis Ahmed is one of the main establishing members of “Ansar al-Islam”. Mr. Ahmed was previously stationed in Afghanistan and met/corresponded with Osama bin Ladin, who recommended him (alongside other members) to establish the “Ansar al-Islam” terrorist group, which was involved in the killing thousands of civilians.

Moreover, after his arrest, Mr. Ahmed‌s case was relayed to Dohuk Criminal Court and was later charged and incarcerated for five years starting from 17th March 2011 for inciting his supporters from Kirkuk and Mosul to carry out attacks in Dohuk. During his period of incarceration, he managed to communicate and organise with a number of terrorist elements who subsequently carried out terrorist car bomb attacks in Bashiqa town.

On the 7th of March 2014, Mr. Ahmed was once again charged, this time for his role in the terrorist attacks in Bashiqa, in accordance with Article 2/4 of the “Kurdistan Region Anti-Terrorism Act”. The families of the victims of the Bashiqa attack registered a claim/complaint against Mr. Ahmed and they are currently awaiting a pending court decision.

The original version of the “Anti-Terrorism Act” was approved in 2006 and extended three times since. The Kurdistan Region security forces have also carried out numerous operations under the law’s mandate, especially since the emergence of Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq in 2014. It must be stated that all individuals arrested under this legalisation are still attributed with their innate human rights such as in arrest procedure and detainment.

Indeed, Mr. Ahmed is without a doubt one of the most volatile/dangerous terrorist elements and is a threat to the stability of the wider region. For this reason, all necessary judicial processes must be seen through before Mr. Ahmed may be released from custody.